Brilliant … But Bouncy

I Will Not Have More Important Things To Do.

Spring break is upon us.

Last year, we went to Disney World during the break. It’s hard not to go to Disney World when you can stay for free at a Disney World hotel, thanks to your husband’s job.

Next year is Dylan’s last spring break before college. It seems unlikely that we will do anything except look at colleges with Dylan, and allow him to make his final decision.

So this year, I didn’t know what to do. I constantly feel like I am running out of time, like they’re almost gone, like there isn’t enough time. I know the whole world is going to change when Dylan leaves – and that my world will never be the same.

Shane’s world will never be the same either, but at least he will be a teenager and have more important things to do than wish Dylan were home. On the other hand, I will not have more important things to do.

So, in my panic, I planned a spring break trip. We want to save money for college, so I planned a very small, rather local trip – a road trip. The entire thing spanned a whopping 900 miles in four days.

I planned some great activities, and some bizarre activities, and some just-plain-off-the-beaten-path activities. I scoured the web for hours and hours and hours. Finally, I had the trip together, and announced to the children that we would be doing a trip that would be full of surprises.

“A trip?” Dylan said. “Why do we have to go somewhere? I wanted to hang out with my friends! I wanted to go to a concert! Why would I want to just sit in a car?”

I sighed. Later, I asked Shane – who was rather excited – if he would mind going on the trip without Dylan.

“It wouldn’t be as fun,” Shane said.

He was right, of course, but also … I had planned this road trip for both boys, so that they would be sure to have a great time for those few days, and still have plenty of time at home afterward. And finally, they agreed that they would both go.

But as the time drew nearer, I checked the weather. It was a terrible forecast. The entire four-day trip was plagued by rain and near-freezing temperatures. I’d planned some great outdoor activities, and some mediocre indoor activities. But the outdoor adventures were the best – and the weather was not cooperating.

The only way to do this trip was to do it … another time.

So I canceled the hotels, canceled the activities, canceled my excitement at the thought of spending those four days sharing some cool stuff with the boys.

So now spring break is upon us, and none of us has anything to do.